Experts Connect with HelpMeSara - because mental health matters

Hello Sara, I was listening to CBC radio the other day and heard your discussion on divorce. I am recently separated and my ex is very angry, bitter and does not say nice things about me in front of our 10 yr old daughter. I make a conscious effort not to do this about her dad, however he did it even before we separated. My question to you is what would you recommend I do in this situation? Also w...

Hi Sara, I'm so glad I found your website! I had alot of unanswered questions and your article about children & a new partner gave me comfort. I need some advice on how a 5 year-old can accept someone else in place of their father. Although she isn't attached to her father she might be jealous but then again its not the right time to introduce anything at the moment right?? I just need some br...

I am a grandmother for the first time and simply adore my little granddaughter who is now 17 months. My problem is that I am very nervous when she sleeps overnight. I have tried it twice - once when she was 6 weeks and once at 5 months - and I get so nervous that I get the runs and cannot sleep at all. I worry that I will be too tired to look after her all night and all day. How can I just relax a...

Hi Sara, please help me. I'm a mother of 2 children who are 3 and 4 years old and a stay home mom. My 4 year old goes to school from 9am to noon and my 3 year old is at home all day. I want to get a job but I have to consider my husbands work schedule - from 4pm to 2am (or even until 6am if they're really busy). Everytime we fight this becomes the issue, following the money issue. I also have a je...

Hi Sara, I have been dating my boyfriend for a little over 2 years now. During the past year my five year old son and my boyfriend have been hanging out at least once a week, no sleepovers yet. My son likes my boyfriend but whenever he is around my son misbehaves - he whines, cries and just isn't himself. My boyfriend wants us to move in with him eventually but if their relationship doesn't improv...

Hi Sara - I would really appreciate some feedback on this topic. My maternity leave has ended, and so I started looking into home care & daycare providers. I myself had a bad experience with a babysitter when I was younger and, as my husband likes to say, I'm an "overprotective" mother. I'm having real trust issues when it comes to leaving my daughter as well as an overwhelming feeling of guil...

Hi Sara,We have a great but extremely talkative boy who will be 5 in June. He has a great vocabulary, but doesn't possess any natural shyness. When on elevators, in the store, no other child is safe from him chattering endlessly about his toys, likes or talents. Other kids often just stare, mouth agape, not knowing how or where to begin. He scares away potential friends, which scares me. I want hi...

Dear Sara, My son is 19 and is overweight (275 lbs). He was consistently in the honour roll during high school and graduated as an Ontario Scholar. He received a scholarship during his first term at university in September 2009, which was also his first time living away from his family. When his grades were released we found out that he failed his 3 core courses. He told us that he was overwhelmed...

I have been divorced for 11 yrs from my daughters Dad. We still do a lot of holidays and birthdays together and had another child who is 3 years old. We never remarried and parted 1 year ago. I found someone who is 14 years younger and my daughter wont have anything to do with him. She doesnt know him but tells me that she doesnt feel comfortable around him. They've met 3 times and I have known hi...

My eight year old daughter is already paying a lot of attention to her private parts, especially with the shower head, she said it is because it tickles. Is this normal for her age?

I have a 4 1/2 yr old son and an 8 yr old daughter. Both are great kids except they cry at the drop of a hat and my husband & I are at the end of our rope! My daughter is getting better as she gets older but my son cries because his pants are too short or because he's not as good at Super Mario Wii as his friend. I try to tell him that it doesn't matter and he will get better with practice but...

Sara, I have no idea where to turn anymore when it comes to potty training. I think we have done it all and our patience with our 3-year-old son has run out. I am expecting my second child any day now and my plan was to have my oldest son trained before the arrival of this baby. My sitter is wonderful and has had great success in the potty department with my son. I believe he has been going for he...

I am a new mum and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy last month but I am already worried about how to bring him up and knowing if he is developing normally, especially with his speech. My question is how do I know that my childs language is normal?

Hi Sara, my name is Jennifer, I might be in a hard situation and was wondering if you can give me some advice. I have a 2 and a half year old son whose biological father left me when I was 2 months pregnant. He has never called to find out how his son is, has never seen him. I have been with my fiance for over 2 years now and we have an 8 month old together. My older son has been calling my fiance...

Sara, I love my kids so much more than any regular father. My wife and I were the primary care givers and took good care of the kids since day one but my wife laid false criminal charges against me and has blocked all types of communication between me and my kids. I am going crazy here. We have been separated since September 3rd 2009 and I've only been able to see them twice since then. We have no...